Effects of dietary ascorbic acid and vitamin E deficiency on rat adrenal cholesterol ester metabolism and corticosteroidgoenesis.

The effect of dietary ascorbic acid (AA) and deficiency of vitamin E, alone and in combination, upon adrenal steroidogenesis in rats have been tested in vivo. High concentrations of AA blocked the normal stress-induced increase in plasma and adrenal corticosteroid concentration. Adrenal cholesterol ester hydrolase activity was also markedly inhibited by the high AA diet, while acylcoenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase was significantly increased. Vitamin E deficiency caused generally opposite effect, while simultaneous excess AA and vitamin E deficiency caused these parameters to return toward control values. Thus the role of AA in blocking adrenal steroidogenic response to stress is confirmed. It's mode of action may be at least partly through control of cholesterol availability for steroidogenesis.